AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize "San Pedro Taxes What do you think?" Open Thread

I wonder why Amanda would pose a question to this forum and then lock it to replies? Sure seems odd to me.

That said, I believe Amanda's question is slyly posed. First of all, raising property taxes is not the only way to raise funds for municipal projects. It's just the UNIMAGINATIVE way to raise funds for municipal projects. Assessing hefty property taxes is the American Way of meeting municipal budget obligations but I don't think that nonsense should be copied in Belize. One of the beauties of living in Belize is that you can be assured of a roof over your head even in your old age because you know the government will not come to kick you out of your home over taxes. It is a beautiful thing and should remain the beautiful thing that it is. Don't mess with it.

Obviously, I would be unequivocally opposed to the raising of property taxes specifically because property taxes create undue hardship for the people who can least afford it -- the poor.

I would recommend, that a per unit Impact Fee be charged to any developer over a certain size intending to build on the island.

Secondly, I would start a lobby to have a percentage of the hotel tax collected revert back to the island for improvements. It is only fair. What does the BTB do with all that tax money that the SP Business Association / SP Chamber of Commerce, etc. couldn't do much better with and for less money anyway? Marketing? I think business people are much more capable of selling their products that some civil servants sitting in little cubicles who have never operated a business. Give the money back BTB.

Impact Fees would revert to the City Council to upgrade utilities, road works, etc. to meet the increasing demands caused by the needs of these large-scale developments.

Thanks and cheers,
Wendy Auxillou